Hannover Messe 2016: Laser innovations and driverless forklifts

Fig. 1: Joining steel and aluminum using laser welding. (Photo: LZH)

08. March 2016

IPH/LZH | Forklift trucks understand language and gestures, laser tools cut under water: IPH and LZH present these and other industry 4.0 technologies at the Hannover Messe. From 25 to 29 April 2016, they showcase current research projects at the Lower Saxony Pavilion in hall 2.

Individual manufacturing, three-dimensional lightweight construction, efficient processes or smart parts – the Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V. (LZH) presents the latest developments relating to the laser as a tool. Among others, the LZH develops a laser-based underwater cutting process for sheet pile walls. With this, professional divers can work safer and more efficiently.

The Institut für Integrierte Produktion Hannover (IPH) presents an intelligent, driverless forklift truck that understands language and gestures. Via speech control, warehousemen can easily order the vehicle to move, for example: “place this pallet in shelf 3”. Besides voice commands, the vehicle also detects where the person points. The visitors can try this out themselves.